A 17th century map of Atlantis by Kircher

An untitled map of the mythological island of Atlantis, published in Athanasius Kircher's ''De Onder-Aardse Wereld'', the only Dutch edition of his ''Mundus Subterraneus'' of 1665. Oriented with south at the top, the map positions Atlantis in the mid-Atlantic, between America on the right and Spain and Africa on the left, reflecting Kircher’s attempt to reconcile Plato’s ancient accounts with 17th-century geographic knowledge. The 'Mundus Subterraneus' is one of the most remarkable scientific works of the seventeenth century, an ambitious attempt to explain the inner structure and natural forces of the Earth. In the two-volume encyclopaedia, Kircher combines classical learning, contemporary observation, travellers’ accounts, and bold speculation to describe volcanoes, subterranean waters, winds, fossils, minerals, mountains, and the formation of continents. The book is richly illustrated with maps, diagrams, and dramatic cross-sections that present the Earth as a dynamic, interconnected system. Although many of his theories were later disproved, the work remains a landmark in the history of geology and natural philosophy, and one of the most visually striking scientific publications of its era.